The consumer camcorder market is making big steps forward right now. So while that camcorder you bought last year isn’t in desperate need for an upgrade, if you haven’t purchased one in two (or more) years then you might be surprised by what is coming out these days. Mid-range products are now shooting at 1080p (aka full HD) with the ability to shoot large still images, and models are smaller than ever. Additionally we are seeing more storage options, most models have SD/SDHC and while some have hard drives or flash memory, SSD storage is becoming increasingly prevalent.

JVC’s new Everio HD300 (GZ-HD300A) is a full HD camcorder that records to a 60GB internal hard drive. The drive holds up to 25 hours of HD video, though you can choose to shoot to a microSD card which will give you an easy 8GB of storage. The camera comes in a slick blue color and it’s quite compact, practically pocketable. These features add up to something that will be attractive to a wide selection of consumers.

For the more discerning buyer, features include:

KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS (F1.9, Filter diameter: 30.5mm)

60GB Internal Hard Disk Drive and microSD memory card slot

25 hours recording at the highest quality (Ultra-DVD Movie)

Full HD 1920 x 1080P Recording

1/4.1″ 3.05 Megapixel CMOS

24Mbps Ultra High Quality AVCHD Recording

Up to 1920×1080 Digital Stills

Up to 9,999 digital stills at the highest quality

Easy Operation & Convenience

Laser Touch Operation (for controlling the LCD)

Face Detection

HDMI V.1.3 with x.v.Color

2.7-inch 123K-pixel Color LCD Data Battery

Power-Linked operation with Quick Restart

Convenient 2-way Strap

Auto Power ON/OFF & Auto Lens Cover

Remote Control

At $600 the GZ-HD300 isn’t the cheapest HD cam on the market, but JVC made sure to make it consumer friendly and easy to use. Operation is, on the whole, dead simple and the controls are friendly. In addition to a nice selection of buttons scattered about the device there is a touch-sensitive slider on the side of the LCD panel and touch-sensitive “buttons” under it. These features, while minor, are slick and gives users some insight into what JVC was going for.

The camcorder is quite small, which is one of its main strengths, but consumers will want to keep in mind the implications of this. There are few advanced features, like microphone connections, and users should not expect to see an accessory shoe or things along those lines. The camcorder does have on-board HMDI and component as well as a controller, so not all features are lost to attain the small size. The camera has a wide selection of buttons, but the casual user won’t have to worry about most of them. There is a dedicated snapshot button for taking still images (including when shooting video), a switch for changing between video and camera modes, as well as dedicated one-touch buttons for upload/title, export, and direct disc/info. There is a dedicated button for playback mode as well. Of course, many of these are just there for convenience as pretty much everything can be done through the camcorder’s LCD if you are willing to search through the menus.

In terms of design the HD300 scores most of its points for a small size and good looks. The slim design and blue coloring (other options are available) make it more attractive than most camcorders available, and some gunmetal chrome highlights scattered around don’t hurt either. The button layout is comfortable and easy to adjust too, though some corners were cut on the handstrap. There is a built-in, automatic lens cover and front-facing microphones. The connections are scattered all over the device (USB on the front, power on the back, AV on the back, microSDHC on the bottom, HDMI/component inside facing the LCD).

Once the shooting starts the camcorder will primarily be handled by the main controls (shoot video, snapshots, zoom in/out). Using the LCD, which is not touch-sensitive, the “laser” sensor along the right side comes in handy for scrolling through menus as well as choosing options. The buttons below serve the same function, though these are five discrete buttons, not a touch-strip. During operation the camcorder is easy to operate and doesn’t offer up many surprises–it did what was expected of it and there were no serious problems or noticeable deficiencies during general shooting, aside from lackluster performance in low light (especially for still images). As far as ease-of-use and consumer friendliness goes, the HD300 scores high marks.

Shooting with the HD300 is straightforward and fun. The camcorder reacts predictably and normal tasks like taking still images, recording HD video, and taking stills while recording video are all easy to do. The camera has a wide range of features tucked away in the menu, which can be slow to navigate, but they are all accessible with enough searching. Image quality is generally very good, but the camcorder suffers in low light. The AVCHD shooting with a 60GB hard drive and then optional SDHC means that you will have 5+ hours of recording time on-board (at top quality levels), so long as you can keep the battery charged.

JVC, clearly aware of the enthusiast appeal of a nice camcorder, did make some accessories available. The external design of the camcorder’s means that a larger battery can be used to replace the stock 730mAh one. This battery is rated at 1 hours and 20 minutes while the 1460mAh is at 2:50 and the 2190 model is at 4:10. Of course they get a bit large, but they are not terribly expensive. Other available accessories include a wide-angle lens converter, telephoto converter, and a filter kit.

The HD300 is a small camcorder with good video quality and a wide range of features. Using it requires a lot of work in the menus, and uploading to your computer without using JVC’s included software is not always as smooth a process as it should be, but overall the HD300 gives the user little to complain about. There are not many enthusiast features, like a hot shoe, making the GZ-HD300 a solid consumer camcorder that makes trade-offs for its small size.

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Reader Comments

John Chicago

What about the direct upload to itunes for storing and sharing your videos. Not even mentioned in the review. It’s a cool way to “SHARE” the videos that you take…and really that’s why we shoot videos….to share them….

http://arghyle.com Sal Cangeloso

Yes, the HD300 has one-touch uploading to YouTube. It just saves a step or two when you want to upload your videos. I would imagine if you are shooting with a cam like this you would want to edit your videos first though…

http://www.zoombits.fr/accessoire-ordinateur/ cd vierge

First off, this camera is tiny, especially considering the fact that it has a 60GB hard drive. The size rivals most SD card-only cameras. I assume it uses the same type of tiny shock-resistant hard drive found in MP3 players. The camera is even pocket-size if wearing loose fitting pants or pants with roomy extra pockets, like cargo shorts. Setup was simple. I inserted the battery, plugged in the power cord, and waited until the charging light stopped flashing. You simply open the LCD to turn on camera. There is no optical viewfinder. The LCD is big and bright, although not quite as clear and sharp as some of the competition. There is a vertical touch-sensitive laser scroll strip on left of LCD and touch-sensitive soft buttons along the bottom.
The laser scroll strip is very responsive and becomes quite intuitive after you get accustomed to it. Menu items are logically arranged and easily accessible. The most often used items, such as video and sound preferences, are at top of menu, making them quickly accessible. Scrolling through the menu is accomplished by simply sliding finger up or down laser strip. The laser strip can also be used to zoom the lens in addition to using the switch atop camera. The LCD cavity also houses the power-off button, a mini-HDMI port, component video out connector, a button that enables switching between micro-SD and internal HDD, and additional buttons for playing and exporting video. There is a still picture snapshot button atop camera next to zoom toggle. The tiny form factor fit comfortably in my grip. The adjustable hand strap has a locking clasp that easily snaps open for quick adjustments. It can also be extended and converted for use as a wrist strap for carrying the camera. It also includes a small remote with basic features.

CamOwner

Can I upgrade firmware for this cam on my own? I bought ordered this cam through online and received a Japanese version. I want to upgrade software and make it english version. Could some one post link to firmware and process?

http://www.everyview.com/ Zac

Dude, I have the same camera but cannot get anything to upload to YouTube properly. Everything is small after I upload it. Any tips as to what I’m doing wrong? It’s driving me insane.

I’ve done the one touch thing, uploaded from the software, and taken the file through windows movie maker but can’t get anything to work.

Eric

What about NOT having the video put into iTunes compatible format? Anyone know how I can save the files as .wav files or something close? Have videos I want to send, but not put on YouTube or through iTunes. Thanks.